Valved coupling for fluid conducting lines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illlmm H. C. KRONE ET AL VALVED GOUPLING FOR FLUID GONDUCTINNG LINES ,MME

Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed May 8, 1947 BYZ Patented Feb. 22, 1949 E1s@ PAT ENTv OFFICE" VALVEDf @OUBLING- FO-R FLUID- GONDUCTING LINES Howard' Krone, River Edge, and WilliamV Meyer; E-astfOrange, N. J., assignors to Wheatonl Brass? Werks; Newark, J., a corporationk of' NewrJersey Application May 8;.1947, Serial No. 7462744 siol'aims.. (Cl. 3064-18) locking' the coupling' membersJ inl' coupled' to im getrier' relation, each` coupiing' member' havingV a movable" valve." element for' normally closing `v the same; andL manipulat'able" means' being pro-A vided: for opening' and closing' said' valve elements,` saidilatter means'beingso combined withl 15'* and' related" to 'the ,means'for connecting and" dis'- l connecting the' coupling" members that saidIY valveA elementsr cannot', on the one han-d',v be' opened until the coupling members are' coupled and'- sealed together', nor, on` the other hand, canl the mi couplingv members be released' and' disconnected untillafter'the valve elements have'been' closedi This invention has for' further objects to provid'e in .combination with; the novel constructionof 'cooperative valved: coupling` members of' man-` 25L ipulatable means 'by' which quick and positive` coupling and uncoupl'ing of.' said members can be. accomplished", and whereinI t'he manipulatable valve elements oit'lie. coupling members may be easily actuated' against fluid' pressure, all with- 30"l out'.` risk of 'sporting` or.r other' leakage.

@ther objects' of this invention, not at tiis' time more particularly enumerated; will be undbrstoodV from the' following' detailed description ofthesame.

An. illustrative en'Ibi'ldlm'ent'of'theA invention is shown in tbe accompanying' drawings, in whiche- A Eig., 1 is'a. side' elevational view', parts in section.. o the' separable coupling' members4 of 40' -membersrativelyrmovedto operative connected' sealedirelatiom and..tl1e valve' irxanipula'ti'ngy moana as, thereupon released subject, to actuap l tion; and Fig. 5""s a 'like' longitudinal sectional 55 ing'stem 24 isprovid'ed withk a. male-looking:

view; but4 showing' the valves of ther coupling members moved to' open condition byt actuation of the manipulating means provided forY sucl'ir purpose.

Similar characters of' reference are' employed inthe above described views, t'o indicatei correa' sponding parts.'

Referring to the drawings, the novel:V valvedf coupling, structure according to this invention comprises a male coupling member I'Ufand'a' fe= male coupling member Il. The male coupling member I@ is'provided with a'laterally offsetnecl portion' l2 for attachment to a pipe; hose or other part through which fluid may'ow' to or" from tbe' same. The' female coupling member ll is also provided with'a neck portion |34 for attachment to a hydrant', pipe, hose'- or other part through which fluid may" ow to or fromV the same.

The male couping member lll is` preferably' of external cylindrical4 shape. Mountedl on` the exterior of said male coupling member' Hl,- subject to axial slid'ab'le movement thereon, is av coupler sleeve I4; Saidcoupler sleeve-'Mlispror vided, at its outer'end', with an external annular* coupler flange l5 which isv preferably' formed'-` to provide an inwardly and' downwardly beveledf male coupler shoulder IB'.,

The female coupling' member Il is provided as an intefiral part thereof, with a laterally" open semi-cylindrical coupler section l1". Said cou pier section Il is provided at itsfree'end' withanl internal coupler flange I8' which is preferably formedl to-` provide an inwardly and' upwardly' beveled female coupler shoulderl I9'.

Formed in the outer end ofthe ma'le coupling;A member l0 is a valve port 20` surrounded" by'a valve seat 2l. Formed in connection with the neck portion I2 of saidx male couplingr member lil; is an internally screw-threaded' boss zlwhiph' is disposed in. axially aligned relation' to said valve port 253. Threaded into said boss' Z2 i's the' externally screw-threaded nipple end 23 of an external, upwardly extending, locking stem'Z'd. Said locking stem 24 is provided', interm'ediateh its main body and said nipple end` 23, with an annular collar flange 25, which seats against the outer end of the boss 22'. Interposed between said boss 22 and collar flange 25V is= a sealingI washer 2.6, for sealing the joint between` said2 locking stein' 24 and the neck portion l2? oiv'said male coupling member. Said? locking stern` 2d' provided with` external left lian'dE screwthreads 2l oi suitable pitch'. At'tsextremity', 'saldilor-xiti` 3 portion 28, which is formed to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinal lock channels or grooves 29 for purposes to be subsequentlyV herein explained. Said locking stem 24 is provided with an axial bore 35.

Cooperative with the valve port 28 of said male coupling member i6, to normally seat upon the valve seat 2| so as to close said valve port, is the valve member 3| of said male coupling member. Extending axially upward from said valve member 3|, so as to be slidably guided in a valve guide means 32, which is suitably fixed and supported within the interior of the male coupling member I0, is the shank 33 of said valve member 3|. Supported in connection with the periphery of said valve member 3|, and held in operative assembled relation thereto by a retainer member 34 which is threaded onto said valve member, is a seal ring 35 of suitable resilient material. When the valve member 3| is disposed to close the valve port 20, said seal ring 35 bears upon and is compressed against the valve seat 2|, whereby to seal the joint between the valve member and said seat against leakage. Said valve shank 33 is formed to provide an annular stop shoulder 36 at a suitable point intermediate its upper end portion and said valve member 3|. The upper end portion of the valve shank 33 slidably rides in the valve guide means .32. Said valve shank 33 is provided with an axial bore 31, the lower portion of which is formed to provide internal screw-threads 38. Axially movable through the bore 39 of the locking stem 24 is a valve actuating stem- 39, the lower or inner end portion of which is provided with external righthand screw-threads 48 of suitable pitch. Said valve actuating stem 39 extends into the bore 3.1 of the valve shank 33, so that its screwthreads 40 operatively engage the internal screwthreads 38 of said shank. Said valve member 3| and its shank 33 must be retained against rotation `about its axis while nevertheless free for axial movement. To such end, the upper portion of the valve shank 33, which slides Vin the valve guide means 32, is provided with an external .longitudinal spline channel or groove 4| which is engaged by the end of a stop screw 42 which is supported in and bythe valve guide means 32. The upward movement of the valve actuating stem 39 is limited by a stop collar 43 which is suitably fixed thereon, and is adapted to abut the nipple end 23 of the locking stem 24. In order to seal the joint intermediate the valve actuating stem 39 and the bore 31 of the valve shank 33, said valve actuating stem 39 is provided with a suitably located packing or sealing ring 44.

The female coupling member is providedwith a valve seat member 45, which is threaded into the upper open end portion thereof, and which is Vformed to provide said female coupling member with a valve port 46 surrounded by a valve seat 41. Said valve sea-t member 45 is disposed below the semi-cylindrical coupler section |1 of said female coupling member Said valve seat member 45 is preferably provided in connection with its outer face with an -upstanding annular flange 48, the internal diameter of which corresponds to the external diameter of the male coupling member Ill, and thus forms a shallow receiving socket 49 Vfor the reception of the end of the latter, when said coupling members I and l| are joined and interlocked together in operative connected or coupledrelation.

Cooperative with the valve port 46 of the female coupling member to normally seat upon said valve seat 41 so as to close said valve port, is the valve member 59 of said female coupling member. Extending axially downward from valve member 58, so as to be slidably guided in a valve guide means 5| which is suitably xed and supported within the interior of the female coupling member i l, is the shank 52 of said valve member. Supported in connection with the periphery of said valve member 56, and held in operative assembled relation thereto by a retainer member 53 which is threaded onto said valve member, is a seal ring 54 of suitable resilient material. When said valve member 56 is disposed to close the valve port 46, said seal ring 54 bears upon and is compressed against the valve seat 41, whereby to seal the joint between the valve member and said seat against leakage. Said valve member 56 is yieldably urged to seated relation to the valve seat 41, and thus to close the port 46, by a compression spring 55 which is mounted around the shank 52 between said Valve member 55 and the valve guide means 5|.

Mounted to both turn and move axially upon the locking stem 24 is an internally screwthreaded locking collar 56, the threads of which engage the threads 21 of said locking stem. lAt its lower end, said locking collar'56 is provided with axially spaced annular flanges 51 and 58, which are adapted to provide-an intermediate seat 59 in which is engaged the coupling yoke portion 69 of a pair of oppositely and downwardly extending draft arms 6i; all in such manner that said locking collar 56 isA in swiveled coupled relation to said yoke portion and its draft arms. The free end portions of said draft arms 6| are respectively pivotally connected, by pivoting studs 62, to opposite sides of the coupler sleeve i4 with which the male coupling member I6 is provided. The upper end of said locking collar 56 terminates in a diametrically enlarged head 63. Mounted on the upper end of said locking collar 56, intermediate the head 63 and the upper annular flange 51 thereof, is the hub 64 of a, coupling hand wheel 65. Formed in connection with said coupling hand wheel is a housing portion 66, within the interior chamber 61 of which is housed a movable latch bolt 68. Said bolt63 is provided with a laterally projecting latch nose 59 which normally engages in a receiving socket 1|) which isformed in the periphery of the head 63 of said `locking collar 56, whereby to normally interlock said coupling hand wheel 65 and locking collar 56 together, so that manually induced rotation of the former will rotate the latter. Said latchbolt 68 is provided with a perpendicularly extending pushpiece 1I which projects upwardly through the top wall of the housing portionv 66 to project exteriorly upward therefrom. Said latch bolt 68 is yieldably raised to normal interlocked relation to the locking collar head 63 by a compression spring 12 which is mounted around said pushpiece 1| between the housing portion 66 and a stop washer 13 which is aiixed to the free end of said push-piece 1|. v

The valve actuating stem 39 projectsl freely upward beyond the locking collar 55, and affixed to its exterior end is a valve operating hand wheel 14. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the exterior end portion of the valveactuating stem 39 isv a female locking key"1'5j, whichis provided with an internal key tongue"'16 adapted tonormallyengage in a lock channel or groove accanto;

Zfof shemale locking. keyportiorr-Zr on thelock ing: stem 2:6.. A. compression spring lil is interposed between the valve operating hand wheel 'M andi the.` female locking key l5, whereby to yieldably urgel the latter toward and for cooperation with said maley locking key portion 28. The valve actuating stem te' provided with mi flats 78, and the hub lil of the female locking key 75l. is breached tc provide an opening 80 to conform to said milled flats of the valve actuating stem, whereby said` female locking key slide axially relative to the valve actuating stem, but is incapable of' rotation thereon.

Provided in the end face of the male coupling member le is a sealing gasket 8l of. suitablev resilient material, :which is adaptedv tol` Contact and seal against the endl faccio-l the vali-'escaut member /i' of the female coupling member li, when said' coupling members and llare operatively connected togetherin coupled relation;

When the male female couplingr members Iii-andl lll are disconnected or uncoupledi, the lockeing` collar 5t; occupies a normal downwardly movedposltion lonc the locking stem 2t, so that the couplingyoke mandats-draft t I occupy a normal initial lowered position, whereby,1 to downwardly project the cou-plier frange to of the coupler sleeve It of thev male coupling member If beyond the plane ci the end of the latter (see Figs. 1- and il). Under such? conditions, thev couipling hand wheel S5 is lockedtort-he'locking coll-ar by `the* latch bolt dbi and, at the same time, the emale locking key 'l5 isdisposedto interlock male `locking;key portion 28 of theA lock mg stem thuspreventing turning ofi the valve actuating stem 39,' and consequently' preventing opening of the valve member 3l of the male coupling member ld, while the male and female coupling members it and ll remain uncoupled (again see Figs. 1 and 2).

In the use and operation of the' coupling, to initially engage the male and female coupling members luv and ll together, preparatory to lock ing them up in cooperative coupled and sealed relation, the lowered coupler sleeve Iii, which is carried by the male coupling member It, is moved sidewise through the open sidel of the coupler section Il of the female coupling member Il, thus bringing the coupling members I and li into axially aligned relation, and at the same time disposing the couplerv flange I of said coupler sleeve I fl beneath the coupler flange It of the coupler section il (see Fig. 2).

After the male and female coupling members lli and li have been initially disposed in axially aligned relation as above described, the same are rei tively movedl tri-cooperative coupled andisealed relation follows:

The coupling hand wheel 85" is manually turned in clockwise direction, thus turning the locking collar 55 in like direction, whereby the same is caused, by reason of its screw-threaded relation to the locking t, to move upwardly along ,cela-ttor. Such upward movement of the locking collar exerts an upward pull upon the coupling yoke portion and its draft arms 61, which movement is communicated through the latter to the coupler sleeve lll. The upward movement thus imparted to the coupler sleeve It first brings its coupler .Flange I5V into engagement with the coupler ilange I8v of the coupler section il of female coupling member I I. Continued upward movement ofthe coupler sleeve i4 relative tothe male coupling member tu d-ralvs'the` same and the female coupling memberl Ilf together, so

that: the end of said male coupling member enters.

the receiving socket 49 of the valve seat member 45. off thev female coupling member Il, thereby abutting these parts, and sealing the joint therebetween by compression of the sealing gasket 8l whichlies therebetween. (see Fig. 4). When the male and female couplingmembers lil and Il arethus cooperatively coupled and sealed together, their respective valve members 3l and 50 will be disposed in face to face abutment, but still in closed relation to the respective valve ports served thereby (again see Fig. 4).

The rising movement of the locking collar 56, which eilects the coupling and sealing together of the `male and female coupling members Ill and il, is communicated to the female locking key '.15'. which is thus caused` to slide upwardly along the v-alve actuating stem 39 against the tension of the spring ll, so that by the time the coupling and sealing of the coupling members l0 and H is completed, said female locking key l5 is carried away and disengaged from the male locking key portion 2.8. of the locking stem 24, thus freeing the valvel actuating stem 3S for manipulation, but only after said coupling members lil and Il are secured in cooperative coupled and sealed relation. By reason of this, it will be obvious that the valve members of the coupling members cannot be opened until the latter are brought t' into coupled and sealed relation, and consequently no spurting or leakage of fluid can occur during the coupling up operations.

The upward movement of the coupling hand wheel 55 carries with it the push-piece 'll of the latch bolt 68. so that the end of said push-piece 'l l i is brought adjacent to the valve operating hand wheel l@ by the time the coupling members lil and` lll are cooperatively joined :and sealed together, but before the valve members of the latter can be opened (see Fig. 4).

The coupling members l0 and l! having been joined and sealed together as described, the valve members thereof may thereupon be moved to open condition. To accomplish this, the valve operating hand wheel i4 is manipulated to turn the Valve actuating stem 39 in direction to rotate its screw-threaded portion 4b relative to the screw-threaded part 38 of the shank 33 of the valve member 3l within the male coupling member lll. The rst effect of such rotation of the valve actuating stem 3l) is to cause the valve member 3l to travel upwardly along the rotated valve actuating stem 39, until the shoulder 36, with which` its shank 33 is provided, abuts the valve guide means 32, and thus arrests such movement ofy the valve member 3l, whereby to dispose the same in open relation to the valve port 23 of said male coupling member l (see Fig. 5). After arrest of the upwardly moved member 3|', the threaded portion -38 of its shank le operates as a stationary nut relative to which the screwthreaded portion 4S of the valve actuating stem 35i mayv turn as rotation of said valve actuating stem is continued. Under the latter conditions, the valve actuating stem will be caused to move downward, and since its extremity abuts the valve 5E) of the female coupling member Il, such downward movement of the valve actuating stem 3% will exert a downward thrust upon the valve member te, whereby to cause the latter to move downward against the tension of its spring 55; whereby to in turn dispose the same in open relation tothe valve port 5 of the female couplin'g member lli (again see Fig. 5).4 Both valve members 3+ and- EEI being thus moved'- to open 7 positions, the coupling is thereby opened to` flow of liquid therethrough.

As Vthe valve actuating stem 39 moves downward to bring the valve members to opened position, the valve operating hand wheel 14, by its accompanying downward movement, exerts a downward thrust upon the push-piece 'H of the latch bolt 68, which is operative to move the latch bolt'ii downwardly relative to the head 63 of the raised locking collar 55, whereby to withdraw thelatchnose 69 out of the socket li! of said head 63 (see Fig. 5). The effect of this is to free the coupling hand wheel B from its operative interlocked relation to the locking collar 56, whereby rotation of said coupling hand wheel 65 cannot be communicated to said locking collar 5S, and consequently the mechanism operative to join the male and female coupling members iii and Il in cooperative coupled and sealed relation cannot be operated with uncoupling effect upon said coupling members lil and Il' while the valve members Iii and 5i! remain open; and not, in fact, until after said valve members have been closed, by reverse manipulation of the valve actuating stem 3g, which again permits the latch bolt 68 to engage the locking collar head 63 so as to again operatively connect the coupling hand wheel 65 to said locking collar 56. By reason of this, the valve members 3| and 50 must first be closed before the coupling members IB and H are disconnected, and therefore all risk of spurting or leakage of fluid during disconnecting manipulation of the coupling members is avoided.

It will be understood that, by a reversal of the described coupling and valve opening operations, the valve members Si and Eil will first be closed, and thereafter the coupling connections can be .released and the valve actuating stem again locked by the mating of the male and female locking key means 15-28 under the thrust of the spring l1, whereupon the male and female coupling members l and i I can be disconnected and separated.

It will be noted that each valve member 3l' and 50 is provided with a seal ring which is supported in an annular seat with which the valve member is provided, and which is retained against displacement from the seat by a novelretainer member. Each retainer member is characterized yby the possession of an annular keeper lip 82 which overhangs the seal ring so as to very effectively secure the latter against displacement from itsuseat, while nevertheless exposing suilcient external peripheral surface thereof for sealing engagement with a valve seat.

From the above it will be apparent that a very efficient and safe coupling means for separably connecting uid conducting lines is provided by the present invention, and one which is of such novel construction and mode of operation that all risky. of leakage and loss of fluid during coupiing and uncoupling operations is avoided. The coupling structure of this invention is therefore especially well adapted for use in lines conducting inflammable fluids, since the safeguards against leakage thereby provided avoids not only loss of fluid but also eliminates re hazards which would otherwise attend the coupling and uncoupling operations.

Having nov/ described our invention, we claim:

'1.' A coupling for connecting fluid conducting lines comprising separable coupling members adapted toY be aligned end to end, manipulatable means for locking said coupling members together in joined and sealed relation, each coupling member'having an axially movable valve for normally closing the same, an axially disposed manipulatable means common to both said valves for opening and closing the same by relatively opposite axial movements, and means for so relating said locking means and said valve actuating means that said valve actuating means cannot be manipulated to open said valves until after the locking means has been operated to couple and seal the coupling members, nor can said locking means be manipulated to release said coupling members until after the valve actuating means has been manipulated to close said valves.

2. A coupling for connecting fluid conducting lines comprising separable coupling members having cooperative coupling means for interengaging the same in end to end axially aligned joined and sealed relation, each coupling member having a movable valve for normally closing the same, one said coupling member having a fixed exteriorly projecting, axially aligned, externally screw-threaded locking stem, an internally screw-threaded locking collar rotatably mounted on said locking stem subject to axial movement thereon, means interconnecting said locking collar with said coupling means whereby to operate the latter, and a valve actuating means extending axially through said locking stem into the coupling interior for cooperation with the valves therein.

3. A coupling for connecting fluid conducting lines comprising separable coupling members having cooperative coupling means for interengaging the same in end to end axially aligned joined and sealed relation, each coupling member having a movable valve for normally closing the same, one said coupling member having a fixed exteriorly projecting, axially aligned, externally screw-threaded locking stem, an internally screw-threaded locking collar rotatably mountedy on said locking stem subject to axial movement thereon, means interconnecting said locking collar with said coupling means whereby to operate the latter, a Valve actuating means extending axially through said locking stem into the coupling interior for cooperation with the valves therein, and said valve actuating means and said locking stem having cooperative interlocking means adapted to secure the former against valve opening manipulation when the locking collar is in coupling means releasing position, said interlocking means being adapted to be released by the coupling means operating movement of said locking collar.

4. A coupling for connecting fluid conducting lines comprising separable coupling members having cooperative coupling means for interengaging the same in end to end axially aligned joined and sealed relation, each coupling member having a movable valve for normally closing the same, one said coupling member having a xed exteriorly projecting, axially aligned, externally screw-threaded locking stem, an internally screw-threaded locking collar rotatably mounted on said locking stem subject to axial movement thereon, means interconnecting said locking collar with said coupling means whereby to operate the latter, a valve actuating means extending axially through said locking stem into the coupling interior for cooperation with the valves therein, said valve actuating means and said locking stem having cooperative interlocking means adapted to secure the former against valve` openingmanipulatlon when the locking collar is in coupling means releasing position, said interlocking means being adapted to be released by the coupling means operating movement of said locking collar, a hand wheel for rotating said locking collar, and a releasable latch means for normally securing said handwheel in operative relation to said locking collar, said latch means being adapted to be released by valve opening operation of said valve actuating means, whereby to disconnect said handwheel from said locking collar while the valves are open.

5. A coupling of the kind described comprising separable male and female coupling members having cooperative coupling means for interengaging the same in axially aligned sealed relation, an axially movable valve in each coupling member to normally close the same, spring means for yieldably urging the valve of the female coupling member to closed position, the valve of said male coupling member having an axial shank provided with an internally threaded bore, said male coupling member having a xed exteriorly projecting externally screw-threaded locking stem, said locking stem having an axial bore, a valve actuating stem extending through said locking stem bore, the inner end portion of said valve actuating stem being screw-threaded to engage the internally screw-threaded shank of the male coupling member valve, means to retain said male coupling member valve against rotation but free to be moved axially by operation of said valve actuating stem, means to arrest opening movement of the male coupling member valve, whereafter continued operation of said valve actuating stem exerts opening thrust upon the female coupling member valve, a manipulatable internally screw-threaded locking collar rotatably mounted on said locking stem subject to axial movement thereon, and means interconnecting said locking collar with said coupling means whereby to operate the latter.

6. A coupling of the kind described as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve actuating stem and said locking stern are provided with cooperative interlocking means adapted to secure the former against valve opening manipulation when the locking collar is in coupling means releasing position, said interlocking means being adapted to be released by the coupling means operating movement of said locking collar.

7. A coupling of the kind described as dened in claim 5 wherein said valve actuating stem and` said locking stem are provided with cooperative interlocking means adapted to secure the former against valve opening manipulation when the locking collar is in coupling means releasing position, said interlocking means being adapted to be released by the coupling means operating movement of said locking'collar, a hand wheel for rotating said locking collar, and a re leasable latch means for normally connecting said hand wheel in operating relation to said locking collar, said latch means being adapted to be released by valve opening operation of said valve actuating stem, whereby to disconnect said hand wheel from the locking collar while the valves are open.

8. A coupling of the kind described as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve actuating stem and said locking stem are provided with cooperative interlocking means adapted to secure the former against valve opening manipulation when the locking collar is in coupling means releasing position, said interlocking means being adapted to be released by the coupling means operating movement of said locking collar, a hand wheel for rotating said locking collar, a releasable latch means for normally connecting said hand wheel in operating relation to said locking collar, said latch means being adapted to be released by vvalve opening operation of said valve actuating stem, whereby to disconnect said hand wheel from the locking collar While the valves are open, a spring retracted push-piece extending upwardly from said latch means, a second hand wheel for operating said valve actuating stem adapted to engage and move said push-piece so as to release said latch means.

HOWARD C. KRONE.

WILLIAM MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Snyder v Aug. 26, 1947 Number 

